Polyolefins and polyesters flame-proofed with carboxyalkyl and carbamoylalkyl substituted poly(phosphine oxides)

ABSTRACT

Polyolefins and polyesters are flame-proofed with compounds having the formula ##STR1## wherein X is OH or NH 2  and n is a whole, positive integer of 1-4, inclusive.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to application, Ser. No. 603,463 filed of even date herewith and directed to the above compounds per se.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of alkylenebis(phosphine oxides) to provide flame-retardance to thermoplastic polymers is known, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,284,543, as is the use of cyano-substituted arylenepoly(phosphine oxides), see U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,048. The alkylene compounds are, however, effective only at relatively high concentrations, e.g. 20-25% for most polymers. Additionally, the carboxyalkyl and carbamoylalkyl derivatives of the alkylene compounds are relatively incompatible with non-polar polymers, such as polypropylene, as are many other of said alkylene compounds, at concentrations ranging upward from about 10%, by weight. As a result, most of the alkylene compounds are extremely difficult to incorporate to said non-polar polymers by conventional extrusion and injection molding techniques since they tend to exude from or form a two-phase system in the polymer. Consequently, uniform dispersions of the flame-retardant additives in the polymers are difficult to obtain.

Another disadvantage, sometimes more serious, is the relative high water-solubility of the alkylene compounds which, in certain applications, such as in dishwasher and clotheswasher components, tends to cause the compounds to be more readily extracted from the polymer. As a result, the polymers then become more flammable and ultimately fail to pass the Underwriter's Laboratory Test of acceptable flame-retardance.

The need for additional compounds which will function in an acceptable flame-retarding manner in non-polar polymers is therefore readily apparent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

I have now discovered that the above defects of the aforementioned alkylenebis(phosphine oxides) can also be overcome, and exellent flame-retardant properties attained, by incorporating into polyolefins and polyesters a compound conforming to Formula I, below. These novel compounds impart excellent flame-retardance to polyolefins and polyesters at relatively low concentrations, are easily incorporated into the polymers to provide stable dispersions and do not leach out of the polymer when it is used in conjunction with water after having been formed into a particular article of manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The compounds found to be effective in flame-proofing polyolefins, particularly, polypropylene and polyesters, according to the present invention, conform to the formula ##STR2## wherein X is OH or NH₂ and n is a whole, positive integer of from 1-4, inclusive.

Among the preferred carboxyethyl and carbamoylethyl compounds conforming to Formula I are the following:

1,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2-methylbenzene;

1,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl] -2,5-dimethylbenzene;

2,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-1,3,5-trimethylbenzene;

1,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene;

1,4-bis[bis(2-carbamoylethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-3-methylbenzene;

1,4-bis[bis(2-carbamoylethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,5-dimethylbenzene;

2,4-bis[bis(2-carbamoylethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-1,3,5-trimethylbenzene;

1,4-bis[bis(2-carbamoylethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene

and the like.

These compounds may be readily prepared by reacting bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine oxide or bis(2-carbamoylethyl) phosphine oxide with the appropriately substituted halomethyl benzene in accordance with the general equation: ##STR3## wherein Y is a halogen and n + X are as described above.

The intermediate halomethylated benzene compounds may be prepared by reacting the corresponding benzene compound with formaldehyde and a hydrogen halide as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,945,894; 2,951,100; 2,973,391 and 30,694,480. Alternatively, chlorination of the alkyl group or groups of the appropriate methylbenzenes in the presence of a suitable catalyst (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,926,202) or with chlorine absorbed on zeolite (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,956,084) may be carried out.

My novel compounds may also be prepared by conducting derivative reactions on the appropriate 2-cyanoethyl analog, for example, by hydrolysis of the nitrile to the carboxylic acid, esterification of the carboxylic acid and ammonolysis of the ester to the amide. The appropriate 2-cyanoethyl analogs are readily obtained in accordance with the procedures described in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,048. Nitrile hydrolysis is achieved by reacting the 2-cyanoethyl compound with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, at reflux temperature for from 16-36 hours. Hot water is then added, the resultant reaction mixture is cooled to about room temperature, filtered, water washed, dried and recovered as the corresponding acid.

Esterification of the acid to the ester can be accomplished with an alkanol of 1-8 carbon atoms, e.g., methanol in the presence of an aromatic solvent such as benzene and a small amount of an acid such as sulfuric acid. The reaction media containing these reactants are heated at reflux until a complete solution is formed, i.e., 2 - 10 hours, and then heated for an additional 4 - 8 hours. The resultant solution is then cooled and neutralized with a basic material such as sodium bicarbonate. The solution is then filtered and the filtrate is cooled to about 0°-32° F., stirred, filtered again, washed with alcohol and dried.

As mentioned above, the ester can then be used to produce the novel carbamoyl compounds of the present invention. Ammonolysis of the ester can be accomplished by adding to the ester an excess of concentrated aqueous ammonia at 0°-20° C. with stirring for 1-4 hours. The mixture is allowed to come to room temperature and is stirred at that temperature for an additional 32-60 hours. The carbamoyl derivative is recovered by filtration, water washing and drying.

My novel flame-retardant compounds may be incorporated into the polymer by any known means such as, for example, Banbury mixing, extrusion, injection molding etc. in concentrations ranging from about 2% to about 20%, by weight, based on the weight of the polymer to which it is added. Incorporation of the flame-retardant may also be effected during the polymer production, e.g., by adding it to the monomer mixture undergoing polymerization.

The polymers into which my novel flame-retardant compounds may be incorporated include the polyolefins, i.e., polymers produced from ethylene, propylene, especially the homopolymers thereof, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene and the like. Additionally, I may also use such polymers as the linear aromatic polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene) terephthalate and the like.

The instant flame-retardant compounds may be utilized as such or in conjunction with various flame-retardant additives such as the ammonium polyphosphates, see col. 3, lines 25-57 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,119, hereby incorporated herein by reference, in the ratio of carboxy or carbamoyl derivative to ammonium polyphosphate of 1 : 1 to 1 : 3 Additionally, to the ammonium polyphosphate-carbamoyl or carboxy derivative mixture may be added a metal oxide such as titanium dioxide in amounts ranging from about 0.5 to about 5.0 percent, by weight, based on the weight of the polymer. These metal oxides perform synergistically with the ammonium polyphosphate and carboxy or carbamoyl derivative to minimize dripping of the polymer to which they are added when it is burning and before it extinguishes itself, as can be readily appreciated from a perusal of the above U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,119.

Various other additives may also be added to the instant flame-retarded compositions such as plasticizers, pigments, fillers, stabilizers, i.e., antioxidants etc., antistatic agents, dyes photochromics and the like.

The following examples are set forth for purpose of illustration only and are not to be construed as limitations on the present invention except as set forth in the appended claims. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1 PREPARATION OF 1,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARBOXYETHYL) PHOSPHONYLMETHYL]-2,3,5,6-TETRAMETHYLBENZENE

To 1 liter of concentrated hydrochloric acid are added 103 parts of 1,4-bis[bis(2-cyanoethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene. The reaction mixture is refluxed for 24 hours and 800 ml. of hot water are than added. The resultant reaction mixture is cooled to 25° C. and the product is filtered, washed with water and dried. The yield is 137 parts of 1,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene having a melting point of 265°-267° C.

EXAMPLE 2 PREPARATION OF 1,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARBOXYETHYL) PHOSPHONYLMETHYL]-2-METHYLBENZENE

The procedure of Example 1 is again followed except that the change material is 1,4-bis[bis(2-cyanoethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2-methylbenzene. Good yields of the subject compound are recovered.

EXAMPLE 3 PREPARATION OF 1,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARBOXYETHYL) PHOSPHONYL METHYL]-2,5-DIMETHYLBENZENE

Again following the procedure of Example 1, good yields of 1,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,5-dimethylbenzene are recovered when the charge 2-cyanoethyl compound thereof is replaced by 1,4-bis[bis(2-cyanoethyl)-phosphonylmethyl]-2,5-dimethylbenzene.

EXAMPLE 4 PREPARATION OF 2,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARBOXYETHYL) PHOSPHONYLMETHYL]-1,3,5-TRIMETHYLBENZENE

When the charged 2-cyanoethyl compound of Example 1 is replaced by 2,4-bis[bis(2-cyanoethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, the subject compound is recovered in a good yield, the same procedure being followed.

EXAMPLE 5 PREPARATION OF 1,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARBAMOYLETHYL) PHOSPHONYLMETHYL]-2,3,5,6-TETRAMETHYLBENZENE

109 Parts of the 1,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene of Example 1, 600 ml. of methanol, 100 ml. of benzene and 1 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid are heated at reflux until complete solution is achieved (4 hrs.) and heating is then continued for an additional 5 hours. The resultant solution is then cooled and 15 parts of sodium bicarbonate are added. The solution is stirred for 30 minutes and filtered. The filtrate is cooled in an ice/acetone bath, stirred for an additional 11/2hr., filtered, washed with methanol and dried. 111 Parts of 1,4-bis[bis(2-carbomethoxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene are recovered of 149°-150° C. m.p.

40 Parts of the carbomethoxyethyl compound are then admixed with 300 ml. of concentrated, aqueous ammonia. The mixture is stirred for 2 hours at 10° C. and then allowed to come to room temperature. Stirring at ambient temperature for 48 hours, filtering, washing with water and drying results in the recovery of 30 parts of 1,4-bis[bis(2-carbamoylethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene having a melting point of 322° C. dec.

EXAMPLE 6 PREPARATION of 2,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARAMOYLETHYL) PHOSPHONYLMETHYL]-1,3,5-TRIMETHYLBENZENE

The procedure of Example 5 is again followed except that the starting 2-carboxyethyl compound is 2,4-bis[bis(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-1,3,5-trimethylbenzene. The carbomethoxyethyl intermediate is recovered and converted to the corresponding carbamoylethyl product.

EXAMPLE 7 PREPARATION OF 1,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARBAMOYLETHYL) PHOSPHONYLMETHYL]-2-METHYLBENZENE

Again following the procedure of Example 5, the subject compound is recovered in a good yield, the charge being the product of Example 2.

EXAMPLE 8 PREPARATION of 1,4-BIS[BIS(2-CARBAMOYLETHYL) PHOSPHONYLMETHYL]-2,5-DIMETHYLBENZENE

When the product recovered in Example 3 is used as the charge and the procedure of Example 5 is again followed, 1,4-bis[bis(2-carbamoylethyl)phosphonylmethyl]-2,3-dimethylbenzene is recovered.

EXAMPLE 9

To 80 parts of unstabilized polypropylene are added, by milling at 175° C., 0.1 part of pentaerythrityl tetrakis-(3,4-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 0.25 part of distearylthiodipropionate (as primary and secondary stabilizers) 10.0 parts of the product produced in Example 1, above, 10.0 parts of ammonium polyphosphate and 1.0 part of titanium dioxide. The resultant compounded polypropylene composition is molded at 200° C. into test bars 6× 0.5× 0.125 and the bars are tested for flammability according to Underwriter's Test (UL)-94 (vertical). The flammability is rated according to the following definitions:

V-o: flame extinguishes in 0-5 seconds; non-dripping or, if dripping, the drippings do not ignite surgical cotton.

V-1: flame extinguishes in 6-25 seconds; non-dripping or, if dripping, the drippings do not ignite surgical cotton.

V-2: flame extinguishes in 0-25 seconds; drips and ignites surgical cotton.

The results are set forth in Table I, below, along with other test results utilizing other compounds and combinations of materials according to the instant invention and flame-retardant additives of the prior art. Comparative results are indicated by the letter (c). The flame-retardant compounds are set forth by reference to the following structural formula: ##STR4##

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________     EX.                                                                               Z          R      FLAME TEST                                                                             COMPATIBILITY                                                                           EXTRACTABILITY                           __________________________________________________________________________      9 OH                                                                                               V-1     +        +                                        10 OH                                                                                 V-2STR5##     +       +                                                 11 OH                                                                                 V-2STR6##     +       +                                                 12 OH                                                                                 V-2STR7##     +       +                                                 13 NH.sub.2                                                                           V-1STR8##     +       +                                                 14 NH.sub.2                                                                           V-1STR9##     +       +                                                 15 NH.sub.2                                                                           V-2STR10##    +       +                                                 16 NH.sub.2                                                                           V-2STR11##    +       +                                                 17C                                                                               OH                                                                                 V-1STR12##    -       -                                                 18C                                                                               NH.sub.2                                                                           V-0STR13##    -       -                                                 19C                                                                               OCH.sub.3                                                                          V-2STR14##    -       -                                                 20C                                                                               OCH.sub.3                                                                          V-1STR15##    -       -                                                 21C                                                                               OCH.sub.3                                                                          -##STR16##    -       -                                                 __________________________________________________________________________      (+) = compatible and non-extractable                                           (-) = incompatible and extractable?                                      

EXAMPLES 22-29

When the procedure of Example 9 is again followed except that the ammonium polyphosphate and titanium dioxide are excluded and 15.0 parts of flame-retardant compound are added to 85.0 parts of polypropylene, the following results are achieved.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                                Flame-Retard-                                                                               Flame-   Compat- Extract-                                  Ex.    ant of Ex. No.                                                                              Test**   ability ability                                   ______________________________________                                         22     2            <3 in    +       +                                         23     4            "        +       +                                         24*    7            "        +       +                                         25     6            "        +       +                                         26     1            "        +       +                                         27     5            "        +       +                                         28*    3            "        +       +                                         29     8            "        +       +                                         ______________________________________                                          *polyethylene used.                                                            **ASTM D-635 horizontal test.                                            

EXAMPLES 30-41C

The compounds of Table I, above, are incorporated into polyethylene terphthalate by dry blending at 10%, by weight, based on the weight of the polyester. The blends are melted and stirred for 5-6 minutes at 290°-310° C. The resultant mixtures are cooled, ground into a powder and laminated onto fiberglass sheets by compression molding at 600° F. The laminated sheets are cut into strips 2×6× 0.03 and tested according to ASTM D 2863-70, modified to accept the test strips. In this test, the higher the oxygen index (O.I.), the better the flame-retardance. No ammonium polyphosphate or titanium dioxide are used. The results are set forth in Table III, below.

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                                Flame-Retard- Oxygen   Compat-                                                                               Extract-                                  Ex.    ant of Ex. No.                                                                               Index    ability                                                                               ability                                   ______________________________________                                          30     9            23.0     +      +                                         31     11            23.3     +      +                                         32     12            22.8     +      +                                         33     13            22.0     +      +                                         34     14            23.8     +      +                                         35     16            23.4     +      +                                         36C     17C          24.0     +      -                                         37C     18C          degrades                                                  38C     19C          22.0     -      -                                         39C     20C          23.3     +      -                                         40C     21C          23.0     +      -                                         41C    Control - no  19-20                                                            additive                                                                ______________________________________                                          (+) and (-) = see Table I                                                

EXAMPLE 42

The procedure of Example 30 is again followed except that the polyester in polybutylene terphthalate. Similar results are achieved.

EXAMPLE 43

The procedure of Example 34 is again followed except that the polyester is poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene) terephthalate. Substantially identical results are recorded 

I claim:
 1. A flame-retarded composition comprising (1) a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene or a linear, aromatic polyester selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and poly (1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene) terephthalate and (2) a flame-retarding amount of a compound having the formula ##STR17##wherein X is OH or NH₂ and n is a whole, positive integer of 1-4, inclusive.
 2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein X is OH.
 3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein X is NH₂.
 4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein n is 4 and X is OH.
 5. A composition according to claim 1 wherein n is 4 and X is NH₂.
 6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein (1) is polyethylene.
 7. A composition according to claim 1 wherein (1) is polybutylene terephthalate.
 8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein (1) is polypropylene.
 9. A composition according to claim 1 wherein (1) is polyethylene terephthalate.
 10. A method for the production of a composition of claim 1 which comprises blending (1) a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene or a linear, aromatic polyester selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and poly (1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene) terephthalate with (2) a flame-retarding amount of a compound having the formula ##STR18##wherein X is OH or NH₂ and n is a whole, positive integer of 1-4, inclusive.
 11. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said (1) is a polyolefin and there is incorporated therein(3) an ammonium polyphosphate at a ratio of (2) to (3) 1 : 1 to 1 : 3, respectively.
 12. A composition according to claim 11 containing, in addition thereto,(4) from about 0.5 to 5.0 percent, by weight, based on the weight of said polyolefin of a metal oxide.
 13. A composition according to claim 12 wherein said (4) is titanium dioxide. 